Camera



oa. 20, 1925. Lssmoo L. W. LESSLER Filed May 4, 1925 Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEW W. LIBSLEB, F JOHNSON CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ANSCO PHOTOPRODUCTS,

mC., 0F BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

CAMERA.

Application led May 4, 1925.

To all whom it may cof/wem:

Be it known that I, Law lV. LEssLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Johnson City, county of Broome, and

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Camera, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

This invention relates generally to cameras and particularly to that type known as a folding camera.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a new camera body which when assembled is, by virtue of its construction, light tight, without the use of solder or other material commonly used to fill up cracks, spaces, openings, etc., or otherwise exclude the light.

Another object is to construct this body of few parts which may be readily and easily assembled.

A further object is to provide novel and el'l'cctive light locks or traps forming part of the camera body.

A still further object lies in the construction of the parts of the body in such manner that they may be readily stamped or otherwise formed from sheet metal thereby eliminatingr considerable hand work, resulting in a minimum labor cost.

Other objects and advantages in details of construction and operation will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

In the drawing Figure l is a side elevation of a hotographic camera of the folding type w erein my invention is embodied. The camera in this figure is shown open and with the back and spool carriages also in open position.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of t-he three elements which comprise the body portion of my improved camera.

Figure 3 is an outline plan view of the amera body in assembled position.

Figure 4 is a side view of the assembled body, partsv heilig broken away for clearness of illustration.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the assembled body taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Serial No. 27,795.

In Figure l, I have illustrated a folding camera provided with the usual bellows l, view finder 2, shutter 3, and shutter support el. These elements are adapted to be drawn outwardly from the body of the camera, the support l sliding on rails 5 carried by the platform or hinged front 6 of the camera. A focusing' device 7 cooperates with the support 4f whereby proper adjustment of the lens and shutter may be had with respect to the object to be photographed. A bracket 8 maintains the platform 6 in its lowered position and permits closing thereof when desired. A handle 9 is provided on top of the camera for convenience in carrying. Swinging carriages 10 are provided to receive the film spools shown in dotted lines at l1, upon which is wound the film 1Q. These spool carriages are shown in Figure l, in their outward or loading position, it being understood of course that when the camera is in use they are swung downwardly in thc body of the camera and the back 1S is placed thereover and secured in position by any suitableI fastening means 14.

All of the above elements are common to this type of camera and form no part of this invention except for clearness in illustration and description.

The body of my improved camera is, as illustrated in Figure 2, composed of three elements or sections. These elements are all adapted to be stamped and formed from sheet metal or other suitable material and are provided with interrelated and cooperating parts designed to prevent light from passing through the body ot' any of the points to which the various elements are joined or connected. The element 15 comprises the sides 1G and the end pieces 17. These` end pieces are preferably integral with the sides 16 and are curved towards the back providing chambers for receiving the spool carriages 10.

The four corners of the sides 16 are provided with pivots 1S upon which the spool carriages l() are swingingly mounted. One of the sides l@ adjacent one end thereof is cnt out as at i9 to receive the hub of the winding key 20 carried by one of the spool carriages.

The inner edges of the end pieces 1T are sligfjhtlj.v ofi'set laterally as at 2l forming shouldered seats for receiving the flanges 22 of the element 23 of the body. This element is designed to fit snugly within the o ening 24 formed between the ends 17 of t e member 15. The sides of the member 23 are substantially of the same width as the sides 16. On the back side of the member 23, the edges thereof are turned inwardly at right angles as at 25 and then downwardly as at 26. The flanges 25 thus formed provide a smooth surface over which the lm may travel in its passage through the camera from one spool to the other. The downwardly extending flanges 26 are provided with spaced ears 27 whereby the inner end of the bellows l may be secured to the camera in light tight relation. It should be noted also that the flanges 22 cooperating with the shouldered seats 21 form light tight connections between the element A1,5 and 23.

With the element 23 in position within the member 15, there is still another element to be fitted tightly over a portion of the member 15 and conforming closely to the contour thereof. This element 28 comprises side walls 29 and end pieces 30 adapted to fit snugly over the side walls 16 and end pieces 17 of the member 15. The side walls 2S) however are approximately only one-half as deep or wide as the side walls 16. The edges 31 of the former form a rabbet or shoulder seat against which the edges 32 of the back 13 engage when said back is in position upon the body. One of the sides 29 is recessed as at 33 to match the winding key recess 19 in the element 15.

The material of the member 28 between the ends 30 thereof is cut away and a portion thereof is bent downwardly along side of and parallel with the sides 29 thus forming flanges 34. Recesses 35 are thus formed between the flanges 34 and the side pieces 29, said recesses being open at their ends. It will be apparent that when the member 28 is' fitted over the member 15 and member f Y 23, the edges of the sides 16 between the end pieces 17, as well as the edges of the sides of the member 23 will be received within these recesses 35 thereby effectively locking all light from admission to the body which otherwise might be admitted through .the

cracks or crevices commonly'formed in assembling a plurahty of parts for this purose.

All of the parts just described fit tightly with one another and are readily assembled. The result is a camera body on which may be readily mounted the various elements reuuired to complete the camera, without danger of light leak through any of the interconnecting elements or parts thereof. This eliminates thc necessity common heretofore of using solder or other filling matcrial to close the spaces sometimes left by poorly fitting parts and the absence of proper light locks.

It will be seen that by, very simple ingenious method, I have provided safety light blocks or traps in every ossible place where light might pass throng the camera body either directly or by reflection. The parts are so designed that they ma be l readily stamped and formed by die an maclliine operations, and then readily assemb ed.

It is believed that the operation of my invention and the various parts thereof 1s clear from the foregoing description and a' detailed explanation thereof is not necessa l0 Sufiice it `to say that in assembling the bo y of the camera, the member 23 is merely slipped' into position within the member 15, il the flanges 22 fitting in the depressions or "7 seats 21, formed in the end pieces 17, then the element 28 slip d over the mem ber 15, the flanges 34 an sides 29 engagingdf" on either side of the sides: 16 and 23.` ".['l1e" back 13 being the same Sizeand Shape.` a3 the member 28, also slips over the member 0 15 from the opposite side. The edges`32 of f" said back engaging the edges 31 of the mem ber 28 thus forming a complete light tight camera body.

It will be understood of course that my invention is susceptible to various changes?. in details of construction and operation without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not limit myself therefore to the exact construction shown other than by the appended claims. f"

I claim 1 1. A camera body comprising a member provided with sides and end pieces, a second n.; t A 1 V v ,m .v Anagram-.larinamkmzmLn-e.. 1....... .an h

member between said sides and ends, light` traps between said second'member and said "5 4 end pieces, and a third member providing j light traps between said'seoond member and said sides.

2. A camera body comprising a provided with sides and end pieces, a *if member between said sides and ends, light traps between said second member and said y l end pieces and a third member having over hanging flanges forming light traps between i m said second member and said sides. j *'i 3. A camera body comprising a member provided with sides and end pieces, a seeond member between said sides and seats on said end pieces, flanges on said seep i ond member fitting `in said seats and formf i ing light traps between said second memf bers and said end pieces, and a third member providing light traps between saidsecond member and said sides.

4. A camera body comprising back and a i member provided with sides and end pieces. a second member between said sides and ends. seats on said end pieces. flanges on said Second member fitting in said seats and 3 'et gitaar. A A

forn'iing light traps between said second member and said ends, a third member fitting over said first and second members, provided with overhanging flanges forming light traps between said second member and smid sides.

5. A camera body comprising a back and .1 member provided with sides and end pieces, a second member between said sides and ends, seats on said end pieces, flanges on said second member fitting in said seats and forming light traps between said second member and said ends, a third member fil'- ting over said first and second members, provided with overhanging flanges forming light traps between said second member and said sides, said third member also providing a seat for the back.

6. A camera body comprising a back and a member provided with sides and end pieces, :i second member between said sides and ends, seats on said end pieces, flanges on said second member fitting in said seats and forming light traps between seid seeond member and said ends, e third member fitting over said rst and second members, provided with over hanging fienges forming light traps between seid second member and said sides, the fianges of said third member also providing a seat for the back.

LEV lV. LESSLER. 

